Year 9 Comprehension - A Gun for Sale - teaching resource

Year 9 Comprehension – A Gun for Sale (Graham Greene)

This three-lesson mini-unit is designed to help upper KS3 students develop their comprehension and analytical reading skills in preparation for GCSE English Language. Using an extract from Graham Greene’s A Gun for Sale, the resource provides a blend of structured teaching, exam-style practice, and modelled feedback.

The unit includes a 44-slide editable PowerPoint presentation, 8 worksheets, and a full comprehension exercise with questions and exemplar responses.

Lesson One:

• Introduction to KS3 comprehension

• Strategies for tackling comprehension tasks (dos and don’ts)

• Approaching extracts with first and second readings

• Tackling unfamiliar vocabulary and practising deduction skills

• Writing extended answers on language and techniques

Lesson Two:

• Using quotations effectively in extended responses

• Writing about structure and its effect on the reader

• A timed 45-minute comprehension assessment

Lesson Three:

• Guided feedback and discussion of student responses

• Success criteria and examiner-style guidance

• Model answers for all five comprehension questions

This resource gives Year 9 learners the tools to approach comprehension tasks with confidence, bridging the gap between KS3 and GCSE. It is ideal for classroom teaching, homework, revision, or intervention sessions.

Get access to thousands of pages of resources. Find out more about membership here.